Grand Canyon - Grand Tetons - Custer State Park CABIN QUESTIONS

[MrsPete]

Hi, folks. I've made reservations for cabins inside each of these three parks, and I'd like to know about your experiences staying in them! Questions:

Grand Canyon -- we've reserved a two-room Pioneer cabin with one queen and three twins / rim view
Can we expect a grill /picnic tables in the Pioneer cabin area?
I have the impression that the Grand Canyon Lodge is the only place to eat; I'm thinking there's nothing else nearby -- true or false? How are the prices?
Laundry facilities?
We'll be there over July 4. Can we expect anything special to be going on?
Are fireworks legal at the Grand Canyon? (They aren't in my state, but they are in our neighboring state, and we're right on the border.)
Will I have any trouble with sparklers in my carry-on bag on the plane?

Grand Tetons -- we've reserved a two-room rustic cabin with two double beds and two twins at Signal Mountain Lodge
Again, can we expect a grill / picnic table in the cabin area?
Laundry facilities?
I read good things about the Trapper Grill, and I have the impression that there's other stuff around. True or false? Prices?

Custer State Park -- we've reserved a two-room combo (two queens, two twins) at the Sylvan Lake Lodge inside the park
No questions about grills here -- they seem to be close to "civilization" and we probably wouldn't grill here.
Laundry facilities?
We're planning to do the Buffalo Safari /Cowboy cookout one evening, which is fairly expensive, but I've read good things about it. Has anyone here done it?

And I'm squeezing in one more: Yellowstone. We don't have a reservation for inside the park; instead, we hope to make reservations at a moderately priced chain-hotel that'll have a pool. Our girls are not what you'd call enthusiastic hikers (especially the youngest), and a pool at the end of the day would be most welcome. We hope to find something near the East Entrance on Hi 14, AND something in the small town of West Yellowstone. It doesn't have to be fancy; we're fine with something along the line of a Days Inn, though we would like space for the family to spread out a bit. Suggestions?

And finally, ANYTHING ELSE I should know about any of these places?
THANKS SO MUCH!​

 

[casaazul]

It appears you have lodging on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon which is the more isolated side. Yes, there is only the one lodge so only 1 place to eat. I think they have a deli and a nice restaurant. Visit www.nps.gov/grca for lots of information. Outside of the park to the north is Kaibab Lodge, which may have a restaurant.

NO fireworks of any kind are allowed in any National Park!! Forest fires happen often in the west, many times started by humans. Don't even think about sparklers inside the park, even if you buy them once you land. You are not allowed to bring sparklers on the plane, they have been banned from both carry on and checked luggage. Save that for when you are home.

In the Grand Tetons area, many options for dining and activities. The town of Jackson is nearby. Visit www.nps.gov/grte

Yellowstone .. stay in West Yellowstone for chain motels with pools. East of the park, probably the closest places with pools would be in Cody WY.

While in the Black Hills you may want to do a cave tour, either Jewel Cave or Wind Cave.

 

[disneyfan55]

Hi, folks. I've made reservations for cabins inside each of these three parks, and I'd like to know about your experiences staying in them! Questions:

Grand Canyon -- we've reserved a two-room Pioneer cabin with one queen and three twins / rim view
Can we expect a grill /picnic tables in the Pioneer cabin area?

I honestly don't recall any and don't think there were.

I have the impression that the Grand Canyon Lodge is the only place to eat; I'm thinking there's nothing else nearby -- true or false? How are the prices?

They do have 1 restaurant and it was priced fairly. They also have a bar in the evening open. There really is nothing else for quite a distance.

Laundry facilities?

I don't recall any at the North Rim


We'll be there over July 4. Can we expect anything special to be going on?
Are fireworks legal at the Grand Canyon? (They aren't in my state, but they are in our neighboring state, and we're right on the border.)
Will I have any trouble with sparklers in my carry-on bag on the plane?

Grand Tetons -- we've reserved a two-room rustic cabin with two double beds and two twins at Signal Mountain Lodge
Again, can we expect a grill / picnic table in the cabin area?

There are picnic tables throughout the area. We stayed at Couter Bay Cabins so I'm not familiar with Signal Mtn. Grand Teton, as well as Yellowstone have many picnic areas though.

Laundry facilities?
They had in Couter Bay area.

I read good things about the Trapper Grill, and I have the impression that there's other stuff around. True or false? Prices?

Haven't eaten there. There are other places to eat though. The prices in the National Parks are reasonable. We do bring our own snacks, food and drink on our trips though.

Custer State Park -- we've reserved a two-room combo (two queens, two twins) at the Sylvan Lake Lodge inside the park
No questions about grills here -- they seem to be close to "civilization" and we probably wouldn't grill here.
Laundry facilities?
We're planning to do the Buffalo Safari /Cowboy cookout one evening, which is fairly expensive, but I've read good things about it. Has anyone here done it?

In this area, we stayed in Deadwood. Deadwood is a lot of fun and has been cleaned up in the past 20 years or so. They have casinos and the town itself is a lot of fun if you like the Wild Bill type of thing. Mt. Rushmore, Devil's Tower, Wind and Jewel Caves are all very closeby. The Badlands NP, just east of the area is well worth the visit as well.

And I'm squeezing in one more: Yellowstone. We don't have a reservation for inside the park; instead, we hope to make reservations at a moderately priced chain-hotel that'll have a pool. Our girls are not what you'd call enthusiastic hikers (especially the youngest), and a pool at the end of the day would be most welcome. We hope to find something near the East Entrance on Hi 14, AND something in the small town of West Yellowstone. It doesn't have to be fancy; we're fine with something along the line of a Days Inn, though we would like space for the family to spread out a bit. Suggestions?

Yellowstone is HUGE. It's hard to just squeeze it in. We stayed in cabins, which have been recently renovated near the Yellowstone Hotel. There is so much to see and do. Wildlife abounds. I think the East exit access has been completed. When we were there in 2005 it was a mess. They were completely redoing the road. Cody, just east of Yellowstone is another fun western town. The Buffalo Bill Museum is really very nice and worth the visit. There are reenactments each night outside the Irma Hotel. Then Devil's Tower on the way to the Black hills. If you go north, Bear Tooth Mountain Road is not to be missed. This is absoluetly beautiful!!1 Red Lodge is a town to stay in and you can visit in MT where Custer's Last Stand was. The park was once called Custer Battlefield, but has been changed to reflect the Native American side as well and is now called Little Big Horn.

And finally, ANYTHING ELSE I should know about any of these places?
THANKS SO MUCH!​

Anything else, please ask. We have driven these areas many times on our 6 cross country trips. There are many small places along the way. Before going I make a binder with each days info and directions in a section. I request the free information from each state we will visit as well as the towns (Cody, Deadwood examples) I also request info from the NP that we will visit. Be sure to get a National Parks pass for $80 for the year for you and your family.

 

[MrsPete]

NO fireworks of any kind are allowed in any National Park!! Forest fires happen often in the west, many times started by humans.

That makes sense -- we aren't nearly so dry over here in the east, and we don't have the constant fires that we hear about y'all having.

Anything else, please ask. We have driven these areas many times on our 6 cross country trips. There are many small places along the way. Before going I make a binder with each days info and directions in a section. I request the free information from each state we will visit as well as the towns (Cody, Deadwood examples) I also request info from the NP that we will visit. Be sure to get a National Parks pass for $80 for the year for you and your family.

Yep, I already have a binder started, and I'm planning to buy the National Parks pass. Since it now activates from the day of purchase, I won't buy it until the last minute. Should I order it over the internet or buy it at our first stop (which would be the Grand Canyon)?

And I do have another question: Can anyone tell me about the temperatures at the Grand Canyon North Rim in July? I see on the internet that the average high is not quite 80, the average low something like 48. That's a huge difference, and it's very different from our Carolina weather in July. I understand the cabins at the North Rim aren't air-conditioned -- should we bring small fans, or is the heat different so that it's moderately comfortable?

I also see that the inside of the Canyon is immensely hot -- I think it said at least 100 inside the Canyon during July. Even those of us from the Deep South who are used to such heat tend to droop in that kind of weather, especially while exercising. Is this mule trip a good idea in July?

Same question for the Grand Tetons area; we've reserved a cabin at Signal Mountain Lodge, which does not have air conditioning. Are we going to be sorry?

I have only been west once, and that was 25 years ago (and I've never been to the Grand Canyon)! I think I don't quite "get" these conditions because they're going to be very different from those in my Carolina home.

 

[disneyfan55]

That makes sense -- we aren't nearly so dry over here in the east, and we don't have the constant fires that we hear about y'all having. Yep, I already have a binder started, and I'm planning to buy the National Parks pass. Since it now activates from the day of purchase, I won't buy it until the last minute. Should I order it over the internet or buy it at our first stop (which would be the Grand Canyon)?

And I do have another question: Can anyone tell me about the temperatures at the Grand Canyon North Rim in July? I see on the internet that the average high is not quite 80, the average low something like 48. That's a huge difference, and it's very different from our Carolina weather in July. I understand the cabins at the North Rim aren't air-conditioned -- should we bring small fans, or is the heat different so that it's moderately comfortable?

I also see that the inside of the Canyon is immensely hot -- I think it said at least 100 inside the Canyon during July. Even those of us from the Deep South who are used to such heat tend to droop in that kind of weather, especially while exercising. Is this mule trip a good idea in July?

Same question for the Grand Tetons area; we've reserved a cabin at Signal Mountain Lodge, which does not have air conditioning. Are we going to be sorry?

I have only been west once, and that was 25 years ago (and I've never been to the Grand Canyon)! I think I don't quite "get" these conditions because they're going to be very different from those in my Carolina home.

As far as the National Parks pass, buy it at the first NP you will visit. The last time we visited the Grand Canyon North Rim we wouldn't have had to pay anything. The booth was wrapped in fire retardant foil like material. There were fires nearby (we would have never known if not for this) and no charge!! We already had our passes so it was a move point, but just buy the first time you need it!!

As far as the weather, you don't need air. The cabins at Grand Teton actually have heaters and we did have to use it one of the nights we were there. You are higher in altitude and the nights are cool and wonderful. As far as the Grand Canyon North Rim same thing. You are at about 9000 feet. Your hair dryer will heat up quicker due to the altitude so set it at a lower temp so it doesn't overheat. As far as venturing down into the canyon, yes, MUCH, MUCH warmer. It's a long hike and we haven't done it but the temp will change. You will decend quite a bit so the temp will increase. At either of these parks there can be afternoon thunderstorms so always be prepared.

We didn't do the mule trip at the Grand Canyon - it was cancelled due to the fires in the area. We did, however, do a horseback trip in Grand Teton a few times and the scenery is really beautiful Also, we did a 4 hour trip in Bryce Canyon. That was realy beautiful. If you have any fear of heights, be prepared. The mules walk near the edge and are very sure footed, but the height is HIGH from any ground below!!

Any other questions, please ask!!

 

[casaazul]

Many places out west have a huge difference in temps from day to night! Most likely you will not need any airconditioning, just open the windows at night, probably will need to close them before morning, lol! Very little humidity too.

Most people do not spend much time in the summers at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. If you want to travel there, you have to either book a mule tour or hike, which requires permits and reservations for camping/lodging.

Visit www.nps.gov/grca for more info.